Stern’s worst nightmare: CP3′s trade to Lakers nixed by other owners

David Stern and the owners claimed that the lockout was instigated to bring back competitive balance to the rest of the league.

And then, one of the most transcendent players in the league almost got swapped to one of the league’s marquee franchises.

That is, until a bunch of owners from smaller markets rose up and told Stern that “no way, no how” was Chris Paul being traded to the Los Angeles Lakers.

Several reports indicate that an organized group of league owners stood their ground to keep Paul from being swapped from league-owned New Orleans to the Lakers. And that’s even if the Lakers gave up All-Star forward Pau Gasol and NBA Sixth Man of the Year Lamar Odom.

But sources told ESPN.com, Yahoo.com and other national media that the deal fell through when a group of NBA owners, assembled in New York for the ratification of the league’s new labor pact with the players, protested vigorously about the potential trade.

Whatever they said convinced Stern to intervene to stop the deal.

The funny thing is the deal likely would have helped all of the teams. The Lakers would have gotten Paul to join with Kobe Bryant in a star-studded backcourt. Houston would have upgraded with Gasol replacing Scola. And the Hornets would have received a lot of pieces for Paul, a player they likely won’t be able to keep if he declares for free agency next year.

The other teams didn’t like the thought of Paul joining up with Bryant.